Samson Dauda

Biography Samson Dauda was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, on 11 March 1986. He moved to the United Kingdom during his teenage years from Kaduna, where he initially focused on playing rugby. Dauda holds both British and French citizenship. His introduction to bodybuilding came through encouragement from his rugby teammates and a gym owner, Chris Jones. After witnessing Phil Heath at the 2013 Mr. Olympia, Dauda shifted his focus to competitive bodybuilding and entered his first bodybuilding competition in April 2014. Before committing to bodybuilding full-time, Dauda worked in construction and as a care home maintenance worker, eventually deciding to leave his job in 2020 during a show in South Korea to focus entirely on his bodybuilding career.

Dauda earned his IFBB Pro card in 2017 after winning the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome, marking a turning point in his bodybuilding career. The following year, he made his professional debut at the EVLS Prague Showdown in 2018, placing 5th. His first victory as an IFBB Pro athlete came in 2021 at the EVLS Prague Pro, which earned him a qualification for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, where he made his debut and finished 6th. In 2023, he won the Arnold Classic US and later improved his standing at the Mr. Olympia, finishing 3rd. In 2024, Dauda won the Mr. Olympia by surpassing Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford, and also claimed the People's Champion title. He became the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the Mr. Olympia competition.

Dauda was initially coached by his wife, Marlena Gustowska, who gave up her own bodybuilding career to focus on Dauda's career. Miloš Šarčev was Dauda's coach for 13 professional shows and departed in 2024; Dauda's wife again, assumed role of his coach.

Competitive history 2014 WABBA World Championships – 2nd (Tall) 2015 IFBB Amateur Olympia UK – 8th (Over 100 kg) 2015 IFBB British Championships – 3rd (Super heavyweight) 2018 George Farah Classic Pro Italy – 9th 2019 IFBB British Grand Prix – 2nd 2019 IFBB Chicago Pro – 7th 2019 IFBB Portugal Pro – 5th 2019 IFBB Vancouver Pro – 8th 2020 IFBB British Grand Prix – 6th 2020 IFBB Europa Dallas Pro – 5th 2020 IFBB Monsterzym Pro – 2nd 2021 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 2nd 2021 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st 2021 IFBB KO Egypt Pro – 3rd 2021 IFBB Yamamoto Cup Pro – 3rd 2022 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 4th 2021 IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd 2022 IFBB Boston Pro – 4th 2022 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 6th 2023 IFBB Arnold Classic US—1st 2023 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 3rd 2023 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 1st 2023 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st 2024 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 2nd 2024 IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd 2024 IFBB Tsunami France Pro – 1st 2024 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 1st 2025 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 2nd 2025 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 4th